Homeschooling High School at Hodgepodge

My eldest two children are just 20 months apart in age. So, quite naturally they do many of their studies together. They are only officially a grade apart. For the 2012-13 year, they are my 8th and 9th graders. It was a few really busy years when they were both so little. But I’ve always been thankful God designed our family that way. This sister and brother compliment one another so well all around.

Last year of middle school, first year of high school. It’s the start of a new part of the journey. What a privilege to homeschool high school. I’ve talked about this being a big year for our preschooler, our first grader and our 5th grader. It’s a big year for my big children too. So, I thought it was time to start the year with…

Planners: Back at Apologia Live, I won this Ultimate Weekly Planner for Teens. My daughter and I were already quite taken with it. But then I saw Maureen at Spell Outloud’s pin and her notes convinced me to purchase others. Each of my older three now have one plus my high schooler and I are soaking in the 4 year high school planner. And below are the resources we’ll be using. I’m sure we’ll tweak it along the way. And don’t forget I’m sharing the resources we’ll enjoy with our multiple ages tomorrow, like Tapestry of Grace.

Now, these planners I mention, make their home in each child’s ‘catch all’ basket in our homeschool room. Within easy reach since everyone begins the day with math after their Before 8:45 checklist. (Please see 10 Parts of the Hodgepodge Homeschool Schedule).

8th grader is an auditory learner, he prefers to listen to Teaching Textbooks lessons. 9th grader is a visual learner, she much prefers to read her lesson.

And since these two children are young adults, they choose where they work best. At the chalkboard desk, sitting in the big chair in the school room, stretched out on the family room couch, sitting and pondering on the backyard swing, gathered around the kitchen table or relishing the quiet of a bedroom.

8th Grade and High School Curricula

Teaching Textbooks – 9th grader is finishing up Pre-Algebra, 8th grader is starting it. Waiting to make the Algebra purchase until later!

This past week was such fun! We ate at Chickfila a couple of times. Once before going to see comedian Tim Hawkins – “Chickfila, I could eat there seven times a day!” Of course, homeschooling high schoolers means the need for plenty of food, so after Tim Hawkins, we needed to swing through the drive thru at Krispy Kreme donuts. Expecially since they were ‘hot now’. Our older ones do their studies in different spots, as pictured above.

9th Grader – High School

Independent Bible study

Driver’s Education

Drama Troupe – performing The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Wizard of Oz

I hope you’ll be back! I invite you to subscribe to Hodgepodge so you won’t miss a post. Over the next several days I’ll be sharing the remainder of our plans for preschool, 1st, 5th, 8th and 9th grades plus those things we enjoy with multiple ages. Our Curricula 2012-2013:

Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. The biggest lesson she’s learned? At the end of the day – when the dishes are put away and the children are tucked in bed – truly what matters is each child’s relationship with the Lord. Raising children is a God-given privilege and, folks, the time is short.

I’m so thankful to be able to learn from parents with children a bit older than mine. Since Anna is sixth grade this year, we’re just a couple of years behind you. It’s funny how God just eases us into things we think we be so impossible (like homeschooling high school!).

I now have two adult kids graduated from high school. I see what you are using for yours for Math and Science and I pan to use those when John reaches high school. I wish I knew about them 5 or 6 years ago. Thanks for sharing what you do. It all looks wonderful! I didn’t know there was an APP for the Apologia Biology. I am trying to slowly add more electronic apps and ebooks to supplement our homeschool but it will come with time. Thanks for some really great resources!

The only missing thing that really stands out is that your forgot to mention how you’ll be keeping records…or is that something you do in those nifty planners? It’s important.

I find it difficult to do because we’re always doing non-standard things and I can’t decide what ‘standard’ courses they are part of until I have an overview of the whole highschool program. I’ve enjoyed the program from Lee Binz that I reviewed on TCC; it helps me tie things together.

One more thing: I have back-ups of my records and email them to myself in case of fire etc.

Oh Annie Kate! I so appreciate you mentioning those details! I’ve been reading through Lee Binz materials. And I do mention the planner and tracking of credits in my next post – Hodgepodge Curricula 2012-13. I’m learning about Homeschool Tracker. You are right – it is very important. Thank you – exactly why I asked “what have I forgotten?”

I really liked your comments on the planners. I am one of those people who searches every year for “just the right planner”. Obviously I haven’t found the perfect one yet or I wouldn’t be searching anymore. I am going to go check those out. My daughter is a 10th grader this year and my son a 6th grader, so I feel the pressure to be more organized and come up with something to help keep us on track. We also use Teaching Textbooks and the Apologia sciences. Nice to “meet” you!

Thanks for linking up, Tricia! It sounds like you have a fun year planned. We’re doing biology as well~ I have 3 teens taking biology together. {Yikes!} I’ll be sharing lots of biology moments and lab videos throughout the course of the Home School High link-up. :o)

I didn’t know about the Apologia Flashcards App. I followed you link, which took me to another blog, but their link to the flashcards didn’t work. I’ll try to find it another way. Thanks for sharing that, though. You’ve got a lot of great info here. We’ve been using Spelling City to create lists of words from each unit in their Apologia Science. It’s really helped to improve their test scores to practice the definitions through playing Match It games. My teens are also 20 months apart. We’ve found LetsHomeschoolHighSchool to be a very helpful site. They have a great forum for parents as well as the students. And they have some great free printables and resources, also. Thanks again.